May is my birthday month, which is usually carte blanche to purchase whatever my heart desires. This year was no different. I bought a pair of striped loafers from J.Crew with a gift card, the Tory Burch scarf I’ve been dreaming about, a romper, and two dresses: a versatile LBD from LOFT and a DVF dress I had been crushing on since its debut (on sale!). Let’s just say that June should be another no-shop month, but I’d like to add two more spring dresses (love this and this) and this romper to my wardrobe before we go to Belgium next month.
We’re also at the halfway point for this season’s French Wardrobe Challenge, which is a good time to evaluate progress and make changes for the next three months. My Pinterest board of purchases has been an incredible way to stay accountable, even if I’m a little embarrassed by the amount of things I’ve accumulated in just three months. If you look at the board, you’ll see that those turquoise pants from Banana Republic look so out of place with my other purchases, and perhaps not surprisingly, they’re the only thing I haven’t yet worn. I bought them on a whim with a few coupons and discounts that brought the price down to under $10. I figured they’d be a fun way to punch up my work wardrobe, but that hasn’t been the case.
Everything else, though, is very “me” and has been worn repeatedly, but I think I can cut back on the amount of things I’m buying. I remember reading a blog post awhile back that restricted each month’s purchases to one article of clothing and one accessory each month. I wish I remember the author because it was such a unique way to make sure your purchases are the best you can afford and the most representative of your style.
THE RULES
- Just five standout pieces per season that update your wardrobe. (There are two “seasons” for this purpose: spring/summer and fall/winter.)
- Quality over quantity.
- Basics don’t count.
- Accessories don’t count, unless you’re spending a lot more than usual.
- Socks and underwear don’t count.
- Shoes do count. (I’m not counting shoes, though.)
MY PROGRESS
Part of my five:
- J.Crew Factory botanical-print shorts
- ASOS midi skirt in sheer check
- NEW Diane von Furstenberg dress in a floral stripe: I wanted this since it first came out for spring, but I certainly couldn’t afford a $545 dress. I snagged mine at Bergdorf for $190—barely more than I’d spend on a dress from J.Crew and much better quality.
- NEW Rachel Zoe romper: I tried this on at Saks Off 5th and knew it was coming home with me before I even looked at the price tag. It’s the first romper I’ve tried that made me willing to put up with the bathroom acrobatics that go along with such an impractical item.
Basics:
- J.Crew 5” chino shorts in navy
- J.Crew merino Tippi sweater in heather grey
- J.Crew fit and flare dress in haven blue
- J.Crew lightweight merino v-neck sweater in grey
- Banana Republic “Sloan” pants in turquoise
- Banana Republic trench coat in navy
- Banana Republic eyelet dress in white
- NEW LOFT black dress: I couldn’t resist the eyelet lace on the bodice of this dress. It’s going to get a lot of wear on weekends and during our Belgian vacation.
Bags:
Accessories:
- Eddie Borgo iridescent cone earrings (pre-ordered from Modi Operandi)
- Lele Sadoughi lotus bib necklace
- Vintage ring from Frippery Vintage
- Coach saffiano leather card case in peach rose
- Double pearl earrings via eBay
- NEW Tory Burch floral scarf: I’m sure this purchase came as no surprise, considering I featured the scarf in my sidebar almost all of last month. I’m so happy to finally own something in this botanical print, but now I need to figure out the art of tying a scarf.
Shoes:
- Gap striped flats
- Anthropologie palm-print flats
- Tory Burch “Desi” printed pumps
- NEW J.Crew striped loafers: I bought these during a recent 30% off promotion with a gift card Dave’s parents gave me for Christmas.
Gifted items:
- Randolph Engineering rose gold aviators
- Gerard Yosca statement necklace
- Emma McKinstry long pendant necklace
- Meghna Designs druzy ring
- Golden Thread arrowhead pendant
- Sammy dress double pearl choker
- Lacee Alexandra ring
- Haydren Reis beach bag
- Suzanne Kalan necklace
- NEW Rivet & Sway sunglasses
- NEW Peter Som for Kohl’s dress
- NEW Candie’s sandals
- NEW Apt. 9 crossbody bag
- NEW Apt. 9 sunglasses
If you’re curious about The French Wardrobe Challenge, I encourage you to peruse the archived posts.
Are you taking part in The French Wardrobe Challenge this season? Let me know and I’ll link to your post below. (It probably goes without saying, but I’d love it if you linked back to my posts too.)
